Description of problem: RedHat have just sent out a corrected kernel for RedHat 8/9; 2.4.20-13.8smp and 2.4.20-18.8smp, in my case. First a little about the hardware: I'm running a Workstation with two Pentium 4 type Xeon, 2.0 GHz and 1 GB of memory, it's a Fujitsu Siemens Celsius 670. My hardware is setup for running Multi Threading, which dos that my kernel thinks I have 4 CPU's. Then to the time before these updates, running on kernel 2.4.18-27.8smp: Normally, if I start 3 heavy loading processes, although in nice 20, on the machine, they will tend to be bound on each there "CPU" and will only switch CPU if the machine doing allot of other stuff. This is the normal way of dealing with SMPs, and it have, by the way, worked very very good and the hardware can really perform satisfying. Now after the update: If I start the same 3 processes, still nice 20, they are no longer bound on each there CPU. No they are now "racing" around between the CPU's like crazy. The result is that the machine uses all the overhead to perform the context switchings. That's kind of creepy. One other things I have noticed too is that all interrupts are handled by one CPU only, and not divided as needed one each of the 4 CPU's All in all the result is that the machine is no longer performing properly, it's kind of jumpy. Things like audio and video streaming is no longer possible. Things will get full of "holes" or rather missing parts. This "problem" was corrected all the way back in kernel 2.4.8 long time ago, but seems to be reintroduced in this new kernel 2.4.20.... Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): Kernel 2.4.20-18.8smp How reproducible: Start 3 seti processes with -nice 20. Then try and run some video or audio files with whatever software. Try and start xosview and check how the processes are jumping around. Look in the interrupts view's and notise that only one cpu is handling them, normaly all cpu are suppose to handle each there interupts. Steps to Reproduce: 1. 2. 3. Actual results: Expected results: Additional info: Best Regards Rene Hansen Open Systems Consultant - Aero Data Bækkeskovvej 14 DK-2700 Brønshøj Denmark Phone: +45 3879 9483 Cell: +45 4042 8483 Fax: +45 3871 8427
the irq thing you can easily fix by doing service irqbalance start
Works yes, thanks Arjan
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